Tuesday 8 April

These days are getting busier and busier.
We were on the bus today by 7:15!!!!, but we didn't get far because the road tunnel under the city was closed and the traffic was shocking. We got out at the Dung (dump) Gate, and went first to the Herodian tunnels, 2000yr old passages under the Temple Mount parallel to the Western Wall, that go from the Wall Plaza to the Via Dolorosa. We had to return the same way which gave us the opportunity to stop at the (segregated) Western (wailing) Wall. From there we went to the Temple Institute,  which is planning the 3rd version of the Temple.  I don't think it will happen any time soon, since the Mount has been in Moslem hands since C7. But they had some interesting paintings and reconstructions. (No photos allowed.) Next stop was the Burnt House. These archeological remains were discovered when the Jewish Quarter was rebuilt after the 6 day war in 1967. The film told the story of the last days before the Roman invasion of Jerusalem in 70AD.
After early lunch we joined the queue to be allowed onto the Temple Mount.  Non-Moslems are only allowed in between 13:30 and 15:30, unless someone changes things.  So we waited and in we went to see the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock (only from the outside). There were kids playing, people just wandering around and numerous groups of segregated adults in study groups,  who from time to time would break out into loud chanting.
From there it was back across Wall Plaza to Jerusalem Archeological Park , and the opportunity to walk up the steps that were the only way up to the Temple Mount in Jesus' time.  Then it was out of Dung Gate and up the hill to Zion Gate. All day we had been going up and down and up and down and I especially was getting pretty tired. Here we went to the crusader church/mosque that was built on the site of the Upper Room. Finally we went out of the city to the church of St Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of the home oh Caiaphas, the High Priest.
There our bus was waiting and we all collapsed inside. We lay around and had a sleep and it was time for a late dinner. Our hotel is very Kosher,  and as next week is the start of Passover, today they had to do a complete clean of the whole kitchen and dining room.  So we had to walk up the road to a nearby establishment who were expecting us. It was all fine until we found that their dining room was on the 5th floor and the only lift was broken!!  More climbing. But the food was good and so was the view.